Homemade cleaners will save money on spring cleaning

I think having a positive outlook on life really helps you feel better about yourself and stay healthy. But, there is one thing lately that I'm finding hard to be positive about â¦ this cold weather! What a winter we've had! I'm just so tired of my dry, cracking hands, putting three layers of clothes on in the house just to stay warm, and the high heating bills. One thing's for sure, once all the snow melts there's going to be a good amount of work outside to get your yard back into shape. So take advantage of this lingering cold weather and start your indoor spring cleaning now. That way you'll be ready to move outside once spring finally arrives.

One of the easiest ways to give your home a spring pick-me-up is with color. Nothing can freshen it up and change the look of a room as easily as a coat of paint. Be on the lookout for deals at home improvement stores now as spring sales come into full bloom. Don't forget about your furniture too â¦ there are so many fun and easy tutorials to try if you're looking for a new look without the high price of new furniture.

If painting isn't in your budget right now, a good wall washing will probably do the trick. Here's how I get all the dirt, fingerprints, and crayons off of my walls. First, dust or vacuum your walls to get all of the loose debris off of them. Fill one bucket with clean warm water and fill a second bucket with warm water and a squeeze of liquid dishwashing soap. You'll want to use a natural sponge or white cloths so there isn't any color faded from the sponge onto the wall. I found a pack of three white terry wash rags in the automotive department at Walmart for $1.97. To wash your walls, dip one of the cloths in the soapy solution and start at the bottom to avoid drips running from the top onto still dirty walls which could leave streaking. Move up the wall and then side to side, being sure to stop for breaks after finishing an entire wall. Otherwise you might end up with marks where the clean part of the wall dried before you finished washing it. Take one of your dry white rags to blot the excess moisture after you're finished. This same process will also work to clean up many hard surfaces in your home.

There really isn't a reason to waste money on expensive cleaners. If you can't find cleaning products in the store at a good price with a coupon or sale, baking soda, vinegar, and lemon are pretty much all you need to tackle many household cleaning chores, and you'll be skipping the harmful chemicals in the process. You can find all of my favorite homemade cleaners at SavingByDesign.com/diy-cleaners.

Happy saving!

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